Hartal in Gaibandha town for Monday

Its rally held in the town on Thursday to protest the death was attacked and foiled by ruling party activists.

Monday's hartal was called at its rally held at Gaibandha Shaheed Miner. After the rally, a big procession was brought out in the town demanding judicial investigation into the death in custody of Sajedur Rahman Sajid due to alleged police torture.

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Speakers at the rally demanded impartial probe into the death and punishment to the killers and threatened of tougher agitation for noncompliance.

They also bitterly criticised the attack on their rally on Thursday allegedly by ruling BNP activists. The attack was made to cover up the killing in custody but none has been arrested, they said.

Ruling BNP in Gaibandha is protecting the policemen who killed a youth in custody, Aminul Islam Golap, convener of the Nagorik Committee told the rally.

The speakers demanded arrest of Noor Alam, OC of Gaibandha Sadar police station, for his alleged involvement in the killing.

Police arrested investigation officer (IO) Abu Yousuf after filing of a case against him in connection with the youth's death. Abu Yousuf was placed on three days' remand by a magistrate court on Thursday.

Earlier, police claimed that Sajid committed suicide but the autopsy report said Sajid was strangled.

Meanwhile, four policemen-- SI Abu Yousuf, Fahmida Khatun, SI Dulal Chandra Sarker and Mizanur Rahman were suspended in connection with the death.

Sajid was arrested from Katpatti near the railway station along with a revolver on the night of May 18. He was killed while on remand.

Sajid's father Abur Rouf said earlier that he had talked to his son during daytime on may 21 before he was killed in the evening.